pro cycling

This article is interesting to me mainly for what it explains about how they decide what substances should be banned, and why cyclists or at least their managers would want to have a drug banned. If there's no performance enhancement, OK. But I'd say being able to not abandon the next day is a sort of performance enhancement. What seems clear to me after this year of delayed startup for skating is that Tramadol makes some people l "loopy," and for others, it's a disappointment. :o) I took various pain killers in fear of how great they might me feel. I still never felt amazing! Oh well.

Anyway, not a bad article to remind us all to be careful what we take before going on the road in a car or on wheels.

I wonder what percentage of drivers on the road are actively under the influence of an opiod, alcohol, or other performance disenhancer.

I usually don't like reading the comments section, but even early on there are some funny responses.

Here's just a quick note to say thanks, Levi, for representing your sport so well. We can all be proud that this cyclist is representing the USA so well. It looks like Levi will be supporting Brajkovic for the Vuelta, and neither are among the top five picks as far as I know. I'm glad RadioShack did OK as a team and that they gave help to Levi as he repeated his Tour of Utah win. Great idea to have a bike race in your beautiful state (and get it on television), huh? North Carolina?

For once I don't know what to think of this. I basically dislike fans trying to get in the race or stand alongside or run along with the riders. I normally wouldn't like riders trying to join in, either. But maybe this was a special deal, I'm not sure. If it truly was a test event, well these guys helped provide the test! And it sounds like the race officials failed? No harm, no foul, maybe, and we'll find out if there was any real damage, I'm sure. The only reason I'd be tempted to say this is cool would be the test event nature of it. Hmm. I don't know but feel like they meant to be there but I'm also thinking they really meant to bring up the rear, not be between the peloton and backmarkers. But then they could just be good liars with pants afire.

First, if you're going to just watch a few minutes, here's the finish of Stage 5, the last 7.7km, which are great fun to watch, with a breakaway, small chase breakaway, some major riders dropped, and some major riders in a chasing peleton. Check it out...

Here's an interesting interview with a guy who talks and rides well, and seems to have respect for cycling and its traditions...and his team mates and competitors. If his words turn out to be genuine, I could be considered a fan. I haven't followed Paris-Nice well this year, but it is usually one of the first two events I notice a bit each year (along with Tirreno-Adriatico.

Here's the finish of Stage 1, where you can see Jens Voigt hanging with the young guys again, including de Gendt.

Get ready to cheer for the mouse that roars (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053084/) as Fränk Schleck and Andy Schleck plus former Saxo Bank riders (and others) will be joining them for a super team that looks pretty exciting. Other squads are looking strong, too, especially with some of the recent consolidation of major teams.